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Phase 2 N=17 Treatment

Trial of Nivolumab as a Novel Neoadjuvant Pre-Surgical Therapy for Locally Advanced Oral Cavity Cancer

Oral Cavity SCC

Enrolled (actual)
17
Serious AEs
5.9%
Results posted
Nov 2025
Primary outcome: Primary: Objective Response Rate Using Pathological Response — 4 Participants

Study Design & Population

Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 2
Interventions
Nivolumab (Drug)
Age
Adult, Older Adult · 18+ yrs
Sex
All
Sponsor
Medical University of South Carolina
Primary completion
Nov 2021

Outcome Measures

OutcomeResultp-value
PRIMARY
Objective Response Rate Using Pathological Response
4
SECONDARY
Level of Treg Cells in Peripheral Blood Using Immunostaining
7.7; 9.2
SECONDARY
Level of Activated T-cells in Peripheral Blood
58; 62.2
SECONDARY
Level of Immune Stimulatory Cytokines in Peripheral Blood
26.4; 36.7
SECONDARY
Expression of IFN-gamma in CD4+ Cells
20; 23.9
SECONDARY
Expression of Granzyme-B in CD8+ Cells From Peripheral Blood
46.7; 55.5
SECONDARY
Expression of CD8+ Cells Expressing Granzyme B (Cytolytic Response) From Peripheral Blood
34.7; 42.6

Summary

The purpose of this study is to look at the effectiveness of nivolumab in patients with oral cavity cancer (OCC) who are about to undergo surgery.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

  • Newly diagnosed histologically proven locoregional OCSCC without evidence of distant metastases and a clinically determined T-stage of 2-4,

OR

Recurrent or persistent histologically proven locoregional OCSCC that was initially treated with surgery alone, and a clinically determined recurrent T-stage of 2-4.

Note - OCSCC includes the subsites of oral tongue, floor of mouth, gingiva, retromolar trigone, and buccal mucosa.

Note - To allow sufficient tumor tissue for the immunological analyses, patients with T-stage 1 OCSCC will be excluded

  • Greater than or equal to 18 years of age
  • ECOG performance status of 0 or 1
  • Screening labs must meet the following criteria and must be obtained within 14 days prior to registration:
  • WBC > 2,000/µL
  • Absolute Neutrophil Count >1,500/µL
  • Platelets > 100 X 103/µL
  • Hemoglobin > 9.0 g/dL
  • Serum creatinine 40mL/min (if using the Cockcroft-Gault formula below):

Female CrCl = (140 - age in years) x weight in kg x 0.85 72 x serum creatinine in mg/dL Male CrCl = (140 - age in years) x weight in kg x 1.00 72 x serum creatinine in mg/dL

  • AST/ALT ≤ 3 x ULN
  • Total Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x ULN (except subjects with Gilbert Syndrome, who can have total bilirubin 10 mg daily prednisone or equivalents) or other immunosuppressive medications within 14 days of study drug administration. Inhaled or topical steroids and adrenal replacement doses > 10 mg daily prednisone equivalents are permitted in the absence of active autoimmune disease
View full record on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03021993). Outcome figures and adverse-event rates are extracted automatically from the registry's posted results and are provided for clinician reference, not as a substitute for the primary publication.

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